In Afghanistan, 18 militants were killed in a joint operation by Afghan and international forces in southern Helmand province. The Interior Ministry said in a statement today that six militants were also arrested during the operation yesterday in Sangin district.<br/>Meanwhile, a NATO helicopter was forced to land after it came under fire from the militants in the same province last evening. A NATO statement said all the crew members were evacuated safely but the helicopter was destroyed. Separately, deputy provincial police chief Fazel Ahmad Sherzad said an Afghan man was killed and a woman was wounded after militants attacked a house yesterday in the Shah Wali Kot district of neighboring Kandahar province.<br/>